They wrote a letter.

The Minister wrote a letter.

It is very clear that they have done nothing and they will not do anything.

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his motion. Every man and woman, working or even not employed, is under savage pressure and the Government knows the reason for it. The cost of energy, the cost of travelling, the expense of diesel and petrol and home heating oil has gone up. Things are so extreme now. There was one way to deal with it, and that was not to add the carbon tax. The Government has a greater take of tax now from fuel than it had before the worldwide increase in …

That would suit the Government fine.

Of course it does.

I am calling for an open and frank debate in this House on the treatment of children with spina bifida and scoliosis. Every night on the television news we see these children crying. Parents, meanwhile, are demented with worry. These operations can be done in the UK if there is money for them. The Taoiseach said he gave €5 million to someone last week when he was questioned by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald. Who did he give it to? Where is it? The Taoiseach said that and we want accountability for these poor little child…

We need to have a debate here.

There is nothing as important, a Cheann Comhairle, as those little children.

If we are worth our salt working in here, then we must raise it and we have to get answers. This has been going on for two or three years now and it has gone on long enough.

It is not working.

They have the beds but they do not have the money. There is an issue. They are not getting the money. Some of these are waiting two years or more.

Who did the Government give it to?

We want it made public as to who got the money.

That is the issue.

Some are waiting two years or more, and that is not good enough.

Well, someone has it. The doctors and the surgeons-----

He is telling the truth.

I also thank Deputy Clarke and Sinn Féin for tabling this motion. For far too long, the members of the Defence Forces have not received recognition for the work they do. We have only to look back on all the men and women from our Army who went to undertake peacekeeping duties in Lebanon and other places and where they put their lives in danger. For far too long, we heard that they were not being paid properly, had to sleep in cars and were getting income supplement payments. That kind of a situation which saw peopl…

I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this very worthy motion. I will be supporting it. I support everything that has been said so far. The family of Padraig and Elaine Clifford have paid a very high price, leaving four children behind them. This young couple died within four months of each other. I wish to highlight the plight of Karin O'Shea, a 27-year-old girl from Kilgarvan who is a personal friend of our family and best friends with my daughter, Theresa. I even brought her to school. This girl has gone arou…